I have spent years obsessing over my hair. It has been every shade of blonde, brown, red and even a brief episode of black. I have brought in countless pictures of celebrity hair cuts into the salon and walked away looking so mussed and messed that I may as well have cut it myself.
With a butter knife.
With the butter still on it.
But, mistakes are only truly evil when they’re repeated, and I made sure to learn from each faltering step. Now, I am proud to find my crowning glory just that - gloriously glory. Oh, and I’m modest too. This was a hard fought battle. After spending not hundreds, but several thousand dollars on my hair over the years, I learned the best lesson of all; it doesn’t have to be expensive to work. In fact, some of the best hair tricks are free.
Tips for Fabulous Hair for the Frugal Woman.
- Get your hair cut/colored/styled for free. Yes, it’s possible, and I tried it for the first time during a very desperate period. Without the 200$ it takes to get highlights on my crazy thick hair, and two and a half brown roots about very blond hair, I got risky. I checked craigslist, and became a hair model. Now, I’m not the model type at all, but this isn’t typical modeling. A new hairstylist uses you to demonstrate her abilities. Since they are being tested, you get the ultimate best job out of them. If you want more control over the outcome (I’m crazy and give them free reign) many apprentices will take on appointments at a quarter, or half the price of the longtime salon stylists. And cross my heart, I swear they just try harder.
- Use a spoonful or two of baking soda in your shampoo. My Aunt’s hair gets greasy at the roots, but dry at the ends quickly, just like mine. She recommended this trick to strip the build-up and residue that accumulates on the scalp. A happy scalp grows some happy hair.
- Take fish oil capsules. I was skeptical of this one, but the proof is in the pudding. A naturopath suggested this one to me, I took the plunge despite my aversion to swallowing pills. I’m glad I did, because it has made a big difference.
- Drink lots of water. This one always has to make an appearance in a healthy, beautiful anything list. But your hair is connected to your health, and your health is greatly amplified when you’re properly hydrated.
- Make a deep conditioning mask out of raw eggs, olive oil and mayonnaise. My vet recommended feeding my dogs raw eggs to give them a beautiful, shiny coat. I laughed, and responded “Maybe I’ll start eating raw eggs!” She told me that’s how she conditions her hair, and told me to look up recipes online. Any of these three products can work wonders on their own, but I find by combining the three I obtain a consistency that really sticks to my hair.
So, those are a few of my favorite tricks to healthy, shiny hair with a low monetary investment. The best trick of all, of course, is maintaining a healthy diet. However, when pizza and ice cream won’t be denied, I know my other tricks will step up to the bat.
